Statistics show that men are half as likely as women to be diagnosed with depression but three times more likely to end their own lives. The failure to understand male depression is due to a continuing silence about the emotional world of men, according to a study to be showcased during the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Festival of Social Science.

The research, which is carried out by Dr Ali Haggett of the University of Exeter, suggests that, although men are three times as likely to become alcohol dependent and more than twice as likely to use Class A drugs and to die of drug abuse, little is known about the development of psychological illness in men.

She said: “For a variety of reasons, many of which are not completely understood, men often show distress in ways that don’t fit conventional models of mental illness. Men are more likely to report physical symptoms than symptoms of low mood.”

Dr Haggett argues that gender stereotyping plays an important role. Cultural heroes of the James Bond type reinforce an ideal of masculinity that is stoic and independent. In trying to live up to such heroes, men and boys are often encouraged to minimise the expression of pain and emotion.

The research traces current cultural stereotypes of men and women to Victorian times. It suggests that today’s society would do better to look at earlier periods and alternative constructions of masculinity to understand healthier ways of expressing emotional distress.

Dr Haggett explained: “The Georgians saw virtue and wisdom as evidence of manliness. Moreover, nervous disorders were a sign of good breeding. This meant that men were quite comfortable being reflective about their own physical and psychological experiences.”

Today, the only context in which psychological illness in men has been studied in depth is the war zone. But if post-traumatic stress syndrome in soldiers is now better understood, there is little historical or contemporary research on the experiences of men in ordinary life.

Dr Haggett argues that, although there has been a move to towards a more holistic approach to healthcare in recent years, mental illness is still widely viewed as a disease of the brain to be treated with drugs, implying that the current high rate of male depression is not only due to difficulties of self-expression but also approaches to medical training.

“Clinicians, researchers and policymakers need to set mental disorders affecting individuals in a cultural context,” she says. “Doctors need to understand the sociocultural factors in disease and should adopt a more interactionist model of mental health.”

Dr Haggett will be hosting an interactive event, ‘Man-down: let’s talk about men’s mental health’, on 9 November, to encourage members of the public to an open discussion about masculinity and mental health, as part of the ESRC’s Festival of Social Science at Exe Valley Leisure Centre, Tiverton.

The event, running from 16:00 to 20:00, will bring alive the Victorians’ and the Georgians’ attitudes to psychological illness. It will challenge many of the myths and promote conversation about emotional health and wellbeing. The event will also signpost local and national services and support.